SC accepts Musharraf’s conditions for return

–CJP assures military security, unsealing of Chak Shahzad farmhouse and medical treatment to former dictator if he returns to Pakistan

–Musharraf’s lawyer seeks week’s time for client to make decision about his return

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) accepted a slew of conditions put forth by former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf for returning back to the country as it resumed hearing in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) case on Tuesday.

During the hearing of the case, Musharraf’s counsel Akhter Shah appeared before a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar and submitted the assets details of the former president.

According to his lawyer, Musharraf owns nothing in the country, whereas he has a flat worth 5.4 million dirhams in Dubai. A farmhouse in Chak Shahzad, worth Rs43.6m, has been leased in Musharraf’s wife’s name, lawyer Athar Shah told the court.

The counsel argued that the former president desired the fulfillment of a few conditions for returning back to Pakistan, including the unfreezing of assets.

To this, the top judge remarked that Musharraf should return to Pakistan as he would be provided with pocket money and foolproof security under the supervision of the Rangers director general (DG).

“A military brigade would be deputed to safeguard Musharraf if he desires so,” observed the chief justice.

CJP Nisar remarked that the Chak Shehzad residence of the former military general would also be opened and cleaned while a doctor would also be arranged for medical check-up.

Upon this, Musharraf’s counsel replied that he had talked to his client who seeks seven days to make a decision in this regard. He highlighted that Musharraf faces issues pertaining to accommodation and health.

Upon this, the chief justice remarked that the bench was devising a permanent solution, saying that the embassy would be directed to issue relevant documents to Musharraf.

“We (court) will not inquire the former president about his assets in case he returns,” remarked the top judge.

On the occasion, the top judge quipped in Punjabi: Hor Dasso Ki Chahyda Ae (What else do you want from us), asking renowned lawyer Naeem Bukhari to ensure cleanliness at the residence of the former president.

“Pervez Musharraf holds judiciary in high esteem,” argued Akhter Shah to which the top judge remarked that the conduct reflects whether someone is respecting the judiciary or not.

“The name of the former president was not put on the Exit Control List by the government,” remarked the chief justice and added that neither the judiciary was behind the inclusion and exclusion of his name from ECL.

“Pervez Musharraf is not a coward, he wants to turn up before the courts so he should be permitted to return back to Pakistan,” contended Akhter Shah.

CJP Nisar told Musharraf’s counsel that his client travels across the world for delivering lectures, pressing him for an early return of the former military dictator.

When the bench kept pressing Akhter Shah about seeking the time-frame of Musharraf’s return, the counsel replied that he would consult the former president and would inform the bench later.

The bench adjourned the hearing for a week.

THE CASE:

Feroz Shah Gillani had filed a petition in the court in April to recover ‘huge amounts of public money’ misappropriated by Musharaff and former president Asif Ali Zardari.

Gillani had argued that with the declaration of emergency and passing of the NRO, the constitution was subverted and all criminal and corruption cases against politicians were “arbitrarily withdrawn”.